Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Indiana Becomes Second State To Win Approval For Medicaid Work Requirements

The decision comes just weeks after the Trump administration issued guidelines allowing states to impose the first-ever employment-based restrictions in the Medicaid program's 53-year history. Kentucky was the first state to receive approval for a work mandate. That plan is already under legal challenge.

Politico:
Trump Administration Approves Second Medicaid Work Requirement, For Indiana
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Friday granted Indiana permission to add work requirements to its Medicaid program, making it the second state to tie health coverage to employment for certain low-income enrollees. Azar, days after being sworn in, touted the work requirement plan as an innovative approach to boosting employment and lifting poor adults out of poverty. (Cancryn, 2/2)

The Washington Post:
Indiana Wins Federal Permission To Adopt Medicaid Work Requirements
Federal officials’ approval Friday came almost exactly three years after the Obama administration allowed Indiana to test novel rules within its Medicaid program — among them, charging insurance premiums to even those in deep poverty — but rejected the state’s attempt to impose work requirements. Blocked in 2015 from compelling people on Medicaid to hold or prepare for jobs, Indiana officials created a voluntary “Gateway to Work” as part of their expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The state has been referring people working fewer than 20 hours a week to programs that could help them train or search for jobs. (Goldstein, 2/2)

CQ:
Trump Officials Approve Medicaid Work Rules In Indiana
Under the state’s new rules, able-bodied adults who are working-age and who gained Medicaid coverage under the 2010 health care law will have to work 20 hours a week or participate in a combination of other activities, such as volunteering or going to school. Certain people, such as pregnant women, the medically frail and people in substance abuse treatment, are exempt. The state estimates that roughly 130,000 adults in its Medicaid expansion program are able-bodied and working-age, though many are already working, so the number who would fall under the new rules would likely be much smaller. (Williams, 2/2)

Reuters:
Indiana To Impose Medicaid Work Requirements
Pregnant women, medically frail enrollees, students, some caregivers and people in substance use treatment are among those that are exempted from the requirements. Kentucky became the first state to impose work requirements on its Medicaid recipients last month. (Erman, 2/2)

The Hill:
Trump Approves Indiana Medicaid Work Requirements
Standing beside Gov. Eric Holcomb (R), Azar touted the work requirements as an important way to boost employment and to improve people’s "well-being." “Indiana's vision and ours goes beyond the provision of quality health care," Azar said. “Work is a key component of well-being.” (Weixel, 2/2)

Kaiser Health News:
Indiana Gets Federal Approval For Medicaid Plan That Could Slice Enrollment
Indiana on Friday became the second state to win federal approval to add a work requirement for adult Medicaid recipients who gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act, but a less debated “lockout” provision in its new plan could lead to tens of thousands of enrollees losing coverage. The federal approval was announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in Indianapolis. ... Medicaid participants who fail to submit in a timely manner their paperwork showing they still qualify for the program will be blocked from enrollment for three months, according to the updated rules. (Galewitz, 2/2)

In other new House Speaker Paul Ryan is still gunning for more safety net changes —

The Wall Street Journal:
Paul Ryan Pushes To Keep Overhaul Of Safety-Net Programs On GOP Agenda
House Speaker Paul Ryan, speaking at a GOP policy retreat, called for overhauling government-aid programs to be a legislative priority in 2018, though his plan is likely to face difficulties getting through the Senate and to be delayed by fights over government spending, the nation’s debt limit and immigration. Mr. Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, focused on tightening workforce requirements for welfare and food-stamp programs in his presentation Wednesday to GOP lawmakers and “getting people the skills and opportunities to get into the workforce,” as a measure of helping people, not as a budget-cutting exercise, according to a person in the room. A follow-up discussion on Thursday echoed some of the speaker’s ideas. (Andrews, 2/4)

This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.